“Torin has a point, we barely know him,” Darc said.
“You barely knew Slate when you accepted him.” I waved a hand at Slate.
“Hey, I'm onyourside, remember?” Slate lifted his hands to ward off my words. “Don't drag me into this.”
“Sorry, babe,” I said gently. “I didn't mean it like that.”
“Slate was a different situation,” Declan argued.
Verin grunted.
This time I heard him. “You don't mind that either?”
“You really do understand him,” Torin murmured in surprise.
“They want to know that I'll treat you well and that I won't change my mind in a month and abandon you.” Verin shrugged. “I understand that. A year is nothing if I have you.”
“Yeah, all right,” Declan huffed irritably. “You can tone down the romance now.”
Verin grunted.
“Now, that one, I understood.” Gage chuckled.
“You'll catch on eventually.” I looked at Verin and smiled softly.
“Your year just started.” Darcraxis held his hand out to Verin. “Welcome—tentatively—to the family.”
Verin shook Darc's hand and this time, no one protested.
“Well done, Dragon!” Cerberus lifted his beer to Verin as he put an arm around Freya. “And congratulations, El. Looks like you snagged another one.”
“Thanks, Cer, that's charming.” I rolled my eyes.
“Cerberus, remember what I said about not being a dick?” Freya asked casually.
“I was welcoming the guy,” Cer whined. “How was that dickish?”
“You followed it with a demeaning statement.”
“Demeaning,” Cer scoffed. “If he can't take that, he'll never last in the Cock Collective.”
“Thewhat?” Verin growled.
“This is the best party I've ever been too,” Sara murmured, her stare wide as it went back and forth between Cerberus and Freya. She popped a chip in her mouth and chewed slowly.
“Still being a dick,” Freya pronounced.
“The Cock Collective is a preexisting term,” Cer protested.
“One that we told younotto use.” Torin narrowed his eyes at Cer. “Ever.”
“Fuckin' A, all of you need to lighten up.” Cer shook his head. “El, are you holding out on them or something? Maybe try a BJ, that always relaxes me.”
“You just keep digging the dick ditch deeper,” Freya said in horrified amusement.
“The dick ditch?” Cerberus chortled.
“By the way, you will not be receiving such relaxation tonight,” Freya added.
